Human Voices

Born into a family of shoemakers in Paris, Marin Marais managed, thanks to his talent and a series of fortunate encounters, to make his way to the court of Louis XIV. A student of Sainte-Colombe and Lully, he joined the Royal Orchestra in 1676 and quickly became the king’s court violist, a position he held for over forty years. In addition to four operas, Marin Marais’s major works are dedicated to his instrument of choice. He composed approximately six hundred pieces for one or two violas with basso continuo, collected in five volumes published between 1686 and 1725. A pinnacle of mastery and refinement, this body of work written for the viola da gamba remains unmatched in the history of music. While many of the pieces are distinguished by their virtuosity, emotion remains at the heart of Marin Marais’s compositions. This remarkable interpreter of our souls gained widespread recognition through Tous les matins du monde, a novel by Pascal Quignard adapted for the screen by Alain Corneau. Joining violist Mathilde Vialle are Sébastien Daucé and Thibaut Roussel. A wonderful opportunity to discover members of Correspondances — magnificent ambassadors of the French repertoire of the Grand Siècle — in a new light!